It has been awhile! I finished my grad class (the project ended up being 53 pages - sheesh!). It's nice to be done for a bit. I hit it again in January, so I have a nice, long break. Now, I just have to scramble the money up for tuition.

I turned 25 last Tuesday! Thanks to jedijen for remembering! You're so sweet! :) I had a good time with my family and fiance. I mostly got money and gift cards, which is what I wanted! I need some winter clothes! Ryan, my fiance, bought me a book in addition to a gift card. We share a love of reading. :)

Tomorrow "officially" kicks off the Christmas season for me. I am hoping that this is the year I can find an outdoor Nativity set.

I went to see Blindside last night with Ryan. Very good! Oh, it is so good! I feel the same way as Sandra Bullock's character about Tennessee!

Well, I went to the mountains over the weekend. It was about a five hour drive there, give or take. I thought it would be a restful time. It was very busy. We did a lot of traveling and doing. I went with my Sunday School class, and we had a blast. I took many pictures and had great food. It was a lot of fun.

School has been very stressful for me this year more so than last. I'm trying to find a balance, but sometimes I feel lost in a sea. I have to realize that I can't please everyone. God wants me in this position for a reason, and until He is ready to move me, I will be where I am, and I have no need to worry. I am so happy to have such a loving Father. He truly provides. My fiance is looking for a job (he has one, but he is looking for a better job that makes him happy and is stable), so please pray for him.

Did I mention that I've lost 18 pounds? :)

Well, I am quite proud of myself. I have lost 16 pounds. Pretty nice. I started the first week of July and have been steadily losing. It's amazing what acutally tracking what you eat will do for your body! I'm getting back in shape for karate, which I miss. I took time off from it when I started teaching, and I'm itching to get back in it. It makes me feel strong and confident. I am just a few ounces away from my first present to myself for meeting a goal weight. Very happy about this. :)

Well, it finally feels like fall! Nice, cool weather does that. There was a gourd festival today. New to me. Weird. I felt like I was entering a Martha Stewart episode.

I'm covered with two grad projects. Funness.

I had so many kids out sick today at school. Nasty. They sneeze all over the place without covering their mouths. Disgusting. Well, I'm getting my shots on the 8th. I get the flu shot every year, and this year will be no different. I had the flu once, and I swore I would get a shot each year to prevent it.

I'm working on yet another grad school project. It, too, includes a paper. Why can't it just be the project? *sigh* I know I need to do the paper; it makes sense. Doesn't mean I have to like it, though.

Well, I finally got around to creating a few icons. Nothing fancy, just some simple, basic icons. I was bored one day. :) Enjoy!

It has been raining for a almost an entire week here. Makes me very happy because I love the rain. The only bad part is that this week is the fair. We're to have thunderstorms all week, so probably no fair for me. Very sad. :(

The first six weeks are over. Feels like we just started school. Once October is over, the year flies. I've been covered up with grading and working on grad school projects. Which reminds me, I've got a book to read....

It feels like there's so much to read and not enough time in which to do it. *Sigh* Well, teaching is still progressing. Grad school has too many projects, many of which are pie-in-the-sky unrealistic ideas. I guess that's to be expected. I'm hoping to get a lot done tomorrow. I'm planning on swimming tomorrow, too.

I've had this huge urge to create icons. I need to set aside some time to do that.

Back to school. It has been two weeks now, and I'm pooped. This weekend started grad school again. I'm feeling the pressure, but at least I'm through with my first year of teaching. The first is always the worst, or so I've been told.

I've bought my wedding dress! The only alterations needed to be done are to the straps. It's an off-shoulder dress, much like Belle's from Beauty and the Beast - same kind of neckline. Huge skirt, too. It makes me feel like a Disney princess. :)

Ah yes, first semester down. Exciting! Now, the kids return on Tuesday. Sheesh. No downtime. I bought Sense and Sensibility. I love Jane Austen. I'm in the process of finishing Titanic. It has been a long time since I watched that movie. I love it more now that I'm in love. Yes, I have found someone. No just anyone; The One. I'M ENGAGED!!! I am very happy. October 9, 2010 is the date. Very happy. :)

I'll be off the grid between now and Wednesday morning. I'm working hard and heavily on my research paper. At least I like my topic. Wish me luck!

I am awashed in projects for grad school. Probably means I shouldn't be posting, but I can't help it! There is one left and right. Just gotta make it through to next Wednesday. I have a nice quiet weekend coming up, so I'll get to work on my lovely paper. My theory is because it is the summer, and we have to get fifteen weeks of material into four, in the fall with more space it will be better.

I'm geared up for Alice in Wonderland next year. That'll be good! Thanks to jedijen  for the note on it!

I got it to work! Photoshop's like riding a bike; you never forget. Now, I want to make some icons. And open a site again.

I feel so bad to write this. It has been awhile since I used Photoshop. :( I can't remember how to make a basic border. Isn't that sad? I made them all of the time, but I can't remember anymore. Can anyone help?

UPDATE: I think I got it. Maybe. Stroke?

I just got finished watching Up with my beau. It was very good! The main character and his wife reminded me of Ryan (my beau) and me. It was such a good movie. Pixar movies are always good. My new favorite Disney movie is Wall-E. I love the classics, too, but Wall-E holds a very special place in my heart.

My two classes this month are great. No tests, just projects and a paper. I'm a nerd; I love papers. Go figure. :)

Oh, the shopping bug has hit me. Of course, it usually does when I have no money to spend. :( Sad. It was one of those months when unusual expenses crop up. I hate those. I'm going out of town tomorrow, so I might look around.

I'm about to hit the road in a bit. Running. I do love to run. I'm going running tomorrow on a mountain trail with my beau; he'll be my bodyguard. :)

Creepy, creepy Tim Burton's doing Alice in Wonderland. Will be very interesting. I can't wait to see the trailer for it. That will be fun to see. Alice and I have an interesting interaction. There are times I like it and times I don't. Much like Wizard of Oz for me. Creepy but interesting.

I'm one grad class down and two more to go this summer. It was an interesting course. I'm looking forward to starting the other two. Fifteen weeks' worth of material slammed into one month. Fun, fun.

Happy fourth!

Well, the end of my first year teaching is almost here. The 22nd is the last day for me. Wow, the time has flown. One down, Twenty-nine more to go. It has been a great year, and I'm going to be sad to see most (not all :) ) of my kids go. I have 10th and 11th graders. My brains are about to explode with all I have left to do. Sheesh. Three weeks and counting!

Next month I start grad school. I just signed up for classes. Very exciting! I can't wait! It's a beautiful university. Opposite of my undergrad in that it's HUGE whereas my alma mater is very small.

It has been awhile, hasn't it? I don't think that's a proper contraction. I should know that, considering that I'm now an official high school English teacher. Yup, I graduated in May, and I have my first real job. Very exciting. More terrifying than exciting. I'm gearing up to go to grad school in the summer. I hope to pursue my true passion there: library science. Yeah, I want to be a librarian. I'm in the process of writing my Statement of Purpose. I hope I get in.

Well, on my date yesterday, I ate very well. As in, not bad for you food. Really happy with myself. I've lost two pounds! I have a reward system. When I lose five pounds, I will buy this $3 coaster I saw at BAM that is so funny. When I lose the complete weight I want for the summer, I will buy a Coach handbag. I've wanted one for years, so it's a good incentive,